How did you choose to study at IIRPS VU? Which subjects do you like best?

I knew that I would study political science since the 10th grade, but I guess you could say that I chose to study at IIRPS VU intuitively. I really liked history and geography at school, so one of my relatives gave me the idea to study political science, and I immediately jumped at the offer without thinking too much. I knew almost nothing about the name and significance of IIRPS it was partly intentional, but also unintentional that I found myself in a place where I could not imagine myself in a better place, and my hunch pointed me in the right direction. And as soon as I joined, I felt close to philosophy from the very beginning of my first year. I remember my lecturer’s warning to prepare myself when Plato came, and that was the moment when I felt that there was no turning back and that I could no longer live without philosophy. At the end of the first course, I continued to catch glimpses of it in other things. Eventually, I became interested in qualitative research, and the course on the anthropology of Soviet and post-Soviet societies stuck in my mind, although philosophy has been a faithful companion ever since.

Why did you decide to join the IIRPS VU Students’ Scientific Society (SMD)?

In my first year, I was looking for my place in the university, I tried several activities, but I wasn’t really settled anywhere. Towards my second year, I felt the urge to find myself in the Institute, and I was looking for organisations to join here. The Students’ Scientific Society caught my eye in my first year of studies, and I had seen the activity it maintained during my first quarantine, so I decided that I wanted to try my hand at scientific activities. Moreover, the SMD promised to organise philosophy seminars in the upcoming new academic year, which probably helped me to stop wandering.

You are the chair of the SMD at IIRPS VU; what prompted you to take on the leadership of the organisation? What are your goals in this organisation? Perhaps you can already share what you have achieved?

I have been active in the organisation since I joined, I have taken on a lot of work and wanted to be fully involved. In a couple of years between when I joined and when I became Chairwoman, I put a lot of myself out there, but I got a lot more. The SMD has given me a lot of experiences that have enriched my study years, helped me to keep up my spirit during the quarantine months, and thanks to the paths and opportunities opened up by the Society, I am now here to enjoy the fulfilment of the academic dreams I have had since I started my studies. I have also met wonderful people here, without whom I cannot imagine university. That is why I said in the election debates that I was coming to pay tribute, to continue to lead the organisation to prosperity. Over the past year, the SMD has come alive and blossomed, and my goal is to further mature this beautiful flower, to bring the organisation together as a community, and to strengthen the friendship between its members. Partly because of this, and partly because of our enthusiasm, we have been organising a lot of events lately, and we have many more planned. Through lively events and get-togethers, we are strengthening our bonds as a society, and we are also inviting the members of the Institute to feel a sense of community to discover what is interesting to each individual.

Why is it important to encourage students’ research activities?

First and foremost, it is through research projects and activities that you can get an up-close and personal look at what it is like to work as a scientist behind the scenes and try on a researcher’s clothes. Additional scientific activities also allow for a better understanding of the subjects of study and experience that are valued not only in academia. In addition, research activities also provide an opportunity to get to know the people, researchers, and lecturers involved and to form a group of like-minded people. Research activities provides a complete university experience and gives you a real taste of university life.

What would you like to wish the IIRPS VU community?

I would like to wish them to broaden their horizons even more and not be afraid to explore unknown lands. It sounds a bit strange, given that IIRPS provides a very diverse education, but I would like to wish for even greater ingenuity, as well as openness to the world and to what IIRPS students do not usually encounter. This requires not losing curiosity, but the people of the Institute already have a lot of it. I wish myself and my sisters and brothers in fate to be less serious, to have the courage to be charmingly silly, and to remember that students are allowed to do this.